When someone you love begins struggling with a complex mental health condition, it can feel like the ground shifts beneath you. You may be the first to notice the changes, such as withdrawal, heaviness and loss of interest. You may feel frightened or unsure, torn between wanting to help and not knowing what to do. That uncertainty is real, and you are not alone.

Conditions like major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries and anxiety disorders can disrupt how a person thinks, feels and moves through daily life. These conditions are common and serious—nearly one in four U.S. adults lives with a mental illness in a given year, and depression is now a leading cause of disability worldwide^[1]. Your loved one deserves timely, thoughtful and precise care, and you deserve clarity and support as you walk alongside them. Offering support doesn’t require having all the answers. What matters the most at the beginning is presence, patience and a willingness to understand their feelings.

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Start with listening and observing

Many people have trouble describing what they are experiencing during a mental health crisis. High-acuity conditions often alter energy, concentration and motivation in ways that feel random or out of their control. They may describe feeling “off,” “disconnected,” or “stuck.” Some have tried treatment after treatment without relief, and others have lived for years with symptoms that were misunderstood or misdiagnosed.

Remember that your loved one is not choosing their symptoms. They are reacting to fundamental changes in their brain’s circuitry. Research^[2] using MRI and other brain imaging techniques shows that conditions like depression are associated with changes in key brain circuits involved in mood, focus and motivation, which helps explain why routine tasks can suddenly feel overwhelming. These changes make even the simplest of tasks feel difficult. Approaching their experience with an open desire to understand them instead of frustration helps create emotional safety, and that safety is often what allows someone to open up.

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Encourage early and connected care

One of the most important ways families can help is by supporting access to timely evaluation. In many traditional settings, people wait months for an appointment or must visit multiple offices just to get answers. During this time, symptoms can intensify and families often feel stuck on the sidelines. Studies show that people often live with symptoms for years, on average 6 to 8 years for mood disorders, before receiving treatment, and many then face waits of several weeks to months for a first mental health appointment.^[3] ^[4] ^[5]

At Salma Health, we built our model to remove those barriers by offering rapid access to advanced diagnostics, evidence-based treatment options, and coordinated care and support, so families are not left to navigate the system alone.

Your support might look like helping schedule an appointment, attending a visit or simply sitting beside your loved one as they take their first vulnerable steps toward care. These moments communicate that they don’t have to navigate the system alone.

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Bring gentle structure into daily life

Complex brain-health conditions can interrupt routines and make ordinary tasks feel overwhelming. Creating a gentle structure at home can help restore a sense of predictability. This doesn’t need to be complicated. Simple habits, such as preparing meals at consistent times or encouraging a steady sleep schedule, can make the day feel more manageable.

Research shows that improving sleep can meaningfully reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and that keeping a consistent sleep–wake schedule may matter even more than the exact number of hours.^[6] ^[7] You might dim lights in the evening to support rest, keep common areas calm and uncluttered or help with reminders for medication and appointments. These small adjustments signal safety and steadiness when someone’s inner world feels unsettled.

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Notice when things shift

Families are often the first to notice when symptoms change or escalate. You might see increased withdrawal, sudden changes in sleep or eating habits, expressions of hopelessness or heightened anxiety. These shifts may mean your loved one needs additional support. Because many mental health conditions begin in adolescence and young adulthood—and suicide is a leading cause of death in this age group^[8]—paying attention to changes in mood, sleep or hopefulness is critical.

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If your loved one needs immediate support

If your loved one is experiencing severe distress, has thoughts of self-harm or is experiencing an acute mental health crisis:

Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Text “HOME” to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line
Call 911or go to the closest emergency room

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Support treatment without pressure

Many brain health conditions make it hard for people to start or stay engaged with treatment, even when they want to feel better. You can help by making the process easier to navigate. Offering a ride to appointments, sitting with them during intake conversations or organizing follow-up steps can reduce the stress that often blocks progress.

Treatments like SAINT® neuromodulation or Spravato® can provide relief more quickly than traditional options, and early support helps people stay engaged long enough to experience improvement.^[9] ^[10] Once they begin to feel better, motivation often grows naturally.

Progress in brain health is rarely linear. Some days bring progress; others feel heavier. What your loved one often needs most is a steady, human connection. Simple gestures, such as checking in, offering a walk, sharing a quiet moment, or listening without rushing to offer advice, can offer comfort and be grounding.

Recognizing small steps forward can be incredibly important for someone who is fighting to feel better. Your presence is a reminder that progress is possible, even when they can’t quite see it yet.

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Care for yourself, too

Supporting someone through a complex brain-health condition can be emotionally demanding. Caregivers often carry worry while trying to manage their own responsibilities. Your well-being matters, and caring for yourself is not selfish; it’s essential. Studies suggest that roughly one in three caregivers of adults with serious mental illness experience significant burden, and many report high emotional and physical stress.^[11]

Talking with a therapist, joining a caregiver support group, or leaning on your own circle for help can ease the weight you carry. Rest, boundaries and moments of replenishment allow you to continue showing up with compassion and steadiness.

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You are not alone in this

These conditions often feel overwhelming, but no one has to navigate them in isolation. Understanding your loved one’s experience, advocating for connected, personalized care and creating steady routines at home can help restore a sense of hope and direction.

There are excellent resources for families who care for loved ones, such as National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) nami.org, Mental Health America (MHA) mhanational.org, and the American Psychological Association (APA).www.apa.org.

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^{[1] nimh.nih.gov | Mental Illness}

^[2]^{pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov | Brain structural and functional abnormalities in mood disorders: implications for neurocircuitry models of depression}

^[3]^{jamanetwork.com | Failure and Delay in Initial Treatment Contact After First Onset of Mental Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication}

^[4]^{pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov | Low availability, long wait times, and high geographic disparity of psychiatric outpatient care in the US}

^[5]^{aamc.org | Walk-in clinics tackle urgent mental health needs}

^[6]^{pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov | Improving sleep quality leads to better mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials}

^[7]^{bps.org.uk | Regular sleep pattern, not just sleep duration, supports mental health}

^[8]^{nami.org | Mental Health by the Numbers}

^[10]^{pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov}^{| Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression}_[11]_{https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov | Caregiver Burden among Caregivers of Patients with Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis}